What Are In-Text Citations?
In-text citations are short references you include inside your paragraph whenever you use someone else’s ideas, research, data, or words. They are an important part of academic and formal writing in English.
In-text citations:
- Show the source of your information
- Give credit to the original author or organization
- Help you avoid plagiarism
- Connect to the full reference listed in your bibliography or reference page
Why Are They Important?
Academic writing values evidence and accuracy. When you support your ideas with research from books, articles, or websites, you need to clearly show where your information came from. This makes your writing more trustworthy, professional, and ethically responsible.
Citation Styles
Different subjects use different citation styles. The most common ones are:
| Style | Used In |
|---|---|
| APA | Psychology, Education, Sciences |
| MLA | Literature, Humanities |
| Chicago | History, Fine Arts |
Each style has its own rules.
Helpful Websites
Search the Internet for helpful websites that offer support for writing in-text citations with correct formatting. If you are taking a class, please ask your teacher for website recommendations.